Wednesday, April 6, 2011

You have received the following letter from your pen friend Tim, who is also studying English:

… I very hate making mistakes when I writing English. Can you make me a favour?--Talk me what mistakes I maked in this letter. I hope you must help me in such a way. My friend Sara also learn English. May I give you address her? She want writing you.

My grandmother gave me a gift certificate for the bookstore....

Please rewrite Tim’s letter in better English. (You may start by printing this assignment and circling the errors above.) Then write a paragraph about his grandmother’s gift and his plans for using it. You do not need to write an introductory paragraph.

Well, I cussed out my boss and got fired
Then I hit the lottery and now I’m retired
The odds of that happenin’: slim to none
But I wasn’t surprised when I won
It happens every day
I’m just lucky that way

I’m not braggin’, don’t take it like that
But good things just seem to fall in my lap
My good fortune, I cannot help
I’m just lucky in spite of myself
It happens every day
I’m just lucky that way

Friends and relations knockin’ down my door
Not to mention folks I’ve never seen before
Got my phone number changed,
had it taken out of the book
Still my phone keeps ringin’ off the hook
My luck’s so good
’Til it’s a crying shame
I have to move up the country
I have to change my name
It happens every day, I win when I play
I’m just lucky that way, yeah

You have 40 minutes to do this task. please bring the essay to class one week after you received the assignment.

Comment on the following statement.

In Western countries, people spend a lot of money on their pets. They buy special food for their cats and dogs, buy them toys, and often pay high fees for medical treatment. Some people think this is a waste of money, and argue that pets are dirty and dangerous.

What can you say for and against having a pet? Do people have to spend too much money on pets?